Unique Gifts For Tweens Who Are Hard To Shop For

Speaking as a confirmed bookworm, books are the gift that keep on giving. Whether you opt for a subscription box that gives a few new reads a month or purchase a single page-turner, you can’t go wrong.


Amazon Prime Book Box for Kids is great for all ages, but you can specifically select books for the 9 to 12 age group. Each box will contain either two hardcover books or four board books for younger readers. Just choose your preferred frequency of box delivery, and you’re good to go.


A Kid Curated books subscription is great for kids in the 8 to 14 age group. They’ll receive fun and challenging chapter books to boost their reading comprehension skills.


Pictured: Kid Curated Books from CrateJoy

Tweens who like to learn while they have fun will enjoy this game that's also a STEM learning tool. This maze marble run game teaches them logic and reasoning as they work out puzzles and planning skills. Get it on Amazon.


Little Passports, on the other hand, is a kid- and tween-focused kids subscription box that cultivates a sense of wunderlust from a young age. Choose from three subscription box themes for kids 9 and up — the World Edition, the USA Edition or Science Expeditions — and your kiddo is well on his or her way to learning more about the world’s wonders.


Pictured: Think Fun Gravity Maze Marble Run on Amazon

Lightboxes are like letter boards, only more fun! All kids want to say something about themselves, so give them the space to do it with this color-changing lightbox. Get it at Uncommon Goods.

Exploding Kittens is a staple in my family, and I'd be remiss not to add Throw Throw Burrito into the mix. Both are games for the whole family (ages 7 and up) and perfect for shorter periods of time — and attention spans. They're also great for getting rid of some of that latent energy that builds up in kids over the holidays. Get both Exploding Kittens and Throw Throw Burrito at Target.

A fun henna tattoo set will help them explore body art that feels a bit more grown-up than stick-on tattoos. Get it at Uncommon Goods.

This bowl-mug is perfect for the kid (or kid at heart) who starts their day with a healthy dose of cereal or loves to curl up in front of the Christmas tree with a cup of hot cocoa. Plus, it was designed by kids. Get it at Uncommon Goods.

The "I Am A Rebel Girl" journal to start revolutions is perfect for kids who identify as girls. Interested tweens might also like to curl up with this bedtime companion in the evenings.


Tweens who identify as boys might prefer "Stories For Boys Who Dare To Be Different" since it's the perfect nightstand book to encourage them to be their truest selves.

This DIY mechanical safe kit is not only going to make them feel like a spy, but it will also give them a safe haven to stash their diary, Nintendo Switch remote, or any of the things kids treasure these days. Get it at Uncommon Goods.

Do you have a Boy Scout or Girl Scout on your list? These hand-crafted authentic bird calls are good for enticing the chickadees to your feeder or playing nature’s music.

A safe and fun way to hit a ball around inside? Most parents wouldn’t have believed it existed — until seeing this "Door Pong" set. It's a way to play ping-pong indoors without a table, and without fear of destroying the house. Get it on Amazon.